Machine for and method of forming folded toilet seat covers



Q E. KIRQH4 ETAL MACHINE Fon. ND METHD 6F FORMING FOLDED TOILET SEAT ovEas Filed Sept. 15, -1959 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 April v21, 1942.` c. ,KIRCH ErAL MACHINE FOR AND METHOD OF'FORMING FLDED TOILET SEAT COVERS Filed sept. 15. 193s .7 sheets-sheet 2 BY )m2/@HW ATTORNEY l Apnl 21. 1942- c. EKIRCH UAL l2,280,092 MACHINE Fon AND METHOD' oF FORMING FOLDED TOILET SEAT COVERS y Filed sept; l15, 1939' 7 ysheets--shee 3 ATTRNEY C. E. KIRCH ETAL April 21, 1942.. 2,2so;o9 2

MACHIEIFOR AND METHOD OF FORMING `FOLDED TOILET SEAT COVERS Filed Sepp. '15, 1939 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS C/larZ/esEfj/ @.Mac

We? Y WQV 01u-01A, B ATTORNEY April 21,' 1942- c. E. KlRcH ETAL MCHINE FOR AND METHOD OF FORMING FLDED' TOILET SEAT COVERS 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 l Filed Sept. 1.5, 1939 c; E. KlRcH ETAL MACHINE FOR AND METHOD OF FOBMINGOLDED TOILET SEAT' COVERS April 2.1, 1942.

Fiflspt. 15, 19:59 7 sheets-sheet e Aprn21, 1194z. ai. ma im.l

MACHINE FOR AND METHOD 0F FORMING FOLDED TOILET SEAT COVERS Filed sept 15|, 1939 'f sheets-sheet 7 INVENTO RS .3% Y 1J @p5 Re e EME @ma Y @MB 4 ATTORN Patented Apr. 21, 1942 Es PATE NT OFFICE c MACHINE Fon` AND METHOD or" FoRMlNG FoLDEnTomE'r SEAT covERs charles n. Kirch, B

MacLellan-d and` Frank assignors to` Kirch- Alden, Y., a corpora uialo, Charles G.

M. Becker, Alden, NAI.,`

Trumbull Corporation,v ,k tion of New York applicati@ september 15,1939, serialNo; 295,070

' (ci. sas- 1),

This inventionfrelat'es to a machinefor andv a method of formingand folding'disposable toilet seat covers.

One object of the invention vis'` to provide al machine which is adapted to lfold the seat `covers in such a manner that they may be accommodated` in dispensersof convenient size and may be withdrawn therefrom lwith facility. l

'A further object is to providea machine which is so designed that thin andjinexpensve grades of "stock may be employed.

" A still further object isa machine wherein provision is "made for?` preventing ,displacement` or disarrangement, during the subsequent* `folding operations, of theflaps which are provided as an incident to the opening forming operations.

\ i, seat cover produced: by themachine.

A still furtherobject is a` novel construction and larrangementuof the partsof the machine, whereby to minimize c' enable a high rate of production. c c

Figures `1 andfZfare companion views. of the rear and front halves, respectively, cf a machine embodying the. features ofthe invention,l the rear half being showndnisection and the" front half in elevation,` c' ,A

Figure 3,is"ahjenlarged' section taken along line `3`3 of'ligure` c. c

Figure 4,is anfenlarged fragmentary section taken along the saine line 'asFigure 3, the roll of stock in this instancebeing shown in'section.

Figures fandv 6 are: enlarged'` `sections taken along lines` 5"`5 land"tf-E6, respectively, of Figurel. f I

Figure 7 isfavview in'plan` o'f a `strip of stock after passagethroughthe opening forming rolls. Figure 8 is an enlarged detail section taken along linea-8 of Fgure'2.y

Figure 9` is a section taken along line 9-9 of Figure 8. c'

`Figures 10, ,11, 12 and "13 are transverse' sec.- tions through "the cofoperatingshoe and slipper of the pleating deviceand are taken ralong lines |2'-`-|2 `and |`3-|`3', respectively, Y

Ill-IU, "I I, of Figure 8. c

Figure 14 is an enlarged `vertical section taken along line |4|4 of Figure 2.y L Figure 15]@ `a detail section takenalongline |5`|5 of Figure n c,

Figure 16 is a detail sectonillustrating the action` of the mechanism which y doubles the pleated strip sections. c

Figure 16a is a` horizontal section taken along line; Ilia- Ilia of Figure 14.

Figure 17. is a se met,harlisfrh` i enen thi-oughfthe linterfold-ms "caring of theparts and of the side frame members 43 `Figure 18 is a section takenalong the line IBL- I Sof Figurel', l Figures 1 9, 20, 21 and 22 illustrate progressively the action of the interfolding mechanism.'

"Figure 23 is a, perspective View,V unfolded,of a

Figure 2,4is a perspective view illustratingv diagrammatically thevarious stages of the process.`

The machine,` asvillustrated, includes a forming section GFigure 1) and a folding section 3| (Figure 2), the two sections being adapted to be mounted in tandem upon asuitable base or foundation and being powered by afmotor 32 suitably mounted in theA forming section.' The drive pulley 33y of* the motor-iis4 connected by a belt 34 to a pulley 35 shaft 36. Thesaid shaft extends cross'wise of the formingsection, is mounted i-n suitable bearings formed or provided upon the side frame members 3l thereof Aand carries` a driving gear 38 which meshes with a driven gear The latteris fixed to a coun-tershaft 40",` oneend naled-in abearing 4| carried by one ofthe frame members 31 andthe other endof Whichis jour-` naled `in a bearing 42(Figure` of the folding ,section, it being noted that the side frame members of the foldingseetion are arrangedat right` ang1es` with respect tothe corresponding members of the formingvsection;

Rolls of stock 44 and 45, p'referal'ily` paper, are carried; by spindles 46. The journals of the rolls rest in bearing blocks 4l which are carried,y by c the side yframe members of the forming section,

the said rolls beingk mounted one above the-other,

` as best shown in Figure 1.` The strip lofv material 44a unrolled from the roll 44 passes downwardly around a guide roll 48, between upper and lower. cutting rolls and 50, respectively, around a feed roll' 5|, under a guide roll 52 and over a guide ro'll 53` to the folding section of the machine. The strip of material 45a unrolledjfrom the roll 45 passes overafguide roll 54,between the cutting rolls 49 and 50, around a feed roll over a guide roll andunder a guide roll 51 to the forming section. [The feedrolls 5| and 55 are preferably of steel and are mounted upon shafts 5'8 and 59, respectivelyin such a manner that their 'peripheries which are knurledy or `otherwise roughened,` are spacedfrom one an,-

other, the said shafts carrying companion gears and being driven by a gear 6| Whichis caryried by the shaft 59 and. which meshes with a whichl isfi-xed "to a` drive' of `which is jour-` n `2) carried byone,l

' layers of the rolls cutting edges. "prevents wearing ordulling of theseedges. It doesnot, however, impair the shearing action of rolls. In this connection it will be noted 49 and 50 (Figure 5) are secured upon shafts 63 and 64, respectively, by set screws 49a and are driven by a gear 65 (Figure 1) which is xed to the shaft 63 and which meshes with the gear 6|, the shafts 63 and 64 carrying companion gears 66.

It will be noted that the guide rolls 48 and 54 and the feed rolls and 55 guide the strips 44a and 45a in superposed relation between the cutting rolls 49 and 50. In order to maintain the strips under the proper tension gravity brakes 61 (Figures 1, 3 and 4) are associated with the rolls 44 and 45. Each brake includes a pair of elements 68 which are freely mounted'upon a cross-shaft 69, the said elementsbeing headed and having beveled inner faces 10 which engage the opposite edges of the associated roll. The cross-shafts 69 are carried by arms 1| which are pivotally mounted at their inner ends upon rods 12,v the latter being supported between the side frame members 31. The elements 68 rest upon the rolls and, owing to their-weight Vand the weight of the associated parts,exercise a wedging action against,` and hence deform slightly, the .opposite edges of the rolls, as best shown in Figurer 4. Referring to this figure, it will be noted that the edges ofthe outer, faster moving,

contact the inner, slower moving, zones of the beveled faces of the elements ting rolls 68 While the inner, slower moving, layers of the rolls contact the outer,vfaster moving, zones of the beveled faces of the elements. Free rotation of the rolls is, therefore, resisted, the degreej of resistance dependingl upon the areas of the engaged edge portions of the rolls and being variable, at will, by adjusting weights 13, which are'provided for this purpose, along the arms 1 I. The elements 68 are thus operative to exercise a substantiallyvuniform braking action upon the rolls which is uninfluenced to any substantialdegree by the diameters of the rolls or irregularities in their` shape. They also serve to maintain the rolls in proper alignment with the cuttingrolls, collars 14 which are carried by the cross-shafts 69 being adjustable to vary their setting.`

As the strips 44a and 45a pass between the rolls 49 and 50, opening 15 (Figure 7) `are formed at regular spaced intervals. In this operation the slitting is so controlled, however, that unsevered joints 16 are permitted to remain at the leading ends of the openings, the said joints connecting the naps 11 which are delimited by the slits to the strips and being located substantially midway between the marginal edges of the strips along longitudinally extending median lines. The openings are formed by co-operating knives 18 (Figures 5 and 6), one of which is carried by each of the cutting rolls. The said knives are v thin and of spring steel; and each is bent around and securedto the marginal edge .of a matrix plate 19 by a backing strip 80 and screws 8|. The matrix plates are arcuate and have marginal edges of the requisiter contour; they are secured to the cutting rolls by screws 82; and they support the blades in such a manner that ,their cutting edges co-operate` in scissor-like fashion. Preferably the knives are mounted so that there is a slight clearance between their This has the advantage that it the knives as the'strips of stock are under tension during their passage between the cutting that the knives are so mounted and that the rolls 49 and 50 are so rotated that the spaced ends of the knives make the initial contact with the strips of stock, whereby to effect formation of the joints 16 in the desired relation with respect to the flaps 11.

As the opening forming operations are completed, the strips of stock advance to the folding section (Figure 2) of the machine, the said section having an upper guide roll 83 to which the strip 44a passes from the guide roll 53 and a lower guide roll 84 to which the strip 45a passes from the guide roll 51. From the guide roll 83 the strip 44a passes over a guide roll 85 and under a guide roll 86 to a pleating device 81 while the strip 45a passes from the guide roll 84 under a guide roll 88 to a pleating device 89. The two pleating devices are similar. Each includes a vertically arranged shoe 90 (Figures 8 and 9) which is supported from a horizontal frame member 9| so that its back faces the direction from which the strips of stock advance, the upper edge of the shoe having a rolled edge 92 (Figure 9). The face of each shoe is divided into three triangularly shaped sections 93, 94 and 95 by converging grooves 96 and 91 (Figures 8, 10, 11 and 12), the portions of the rolled edge 92 of the two outer sections sloping downwardly away from the horizontal central portion. The grooves 96 and 91 begin from a minimum depth at the rolled edge 92 and increase to a maximum depth at their lower ends, the depth of the grooves increasingv as the width of the face sections decreases.

The strips 44a and 45a are pulled downwardly across the shoes 90 by feed rolls 98. As they pass over the rounded edges 92 of the shoes the strips are engaged by anged edges 99 of slippers |00 and are caused to enter the grooves 96 and 91, the slippers being` pivotally mounted upon cross rods |0| and being so formed that the anged edges extend into the grooves. The upper ends of the flanged edges are preferably rounded, as indicated at |02 (Figure 9), so that as the strips move around the rounded edges 92 of the shoes the engaged portions are directed into the grooves. The location of the feed rolls and the angularity of the outer face sections of the rolled edges 92 of the shoes cause the strips to follow the bottoms of the grooves, the depth of the grooves being predetermined so that at thelower ends of the shoes they accommodate the strips in their entirety. Hence as the latter emerge from the shoes and pass between guide rods |03 they have been folded lengthwise to one-fourth of their original width, inner folds |05 and |06 and outer folds |01 and |08 (Figure 13) rbeing produced during the passage of the strips through the shoes. In this connection it will be noted that the fianged edges 99 of the shoes do not follow the bottoms of the grooves 96 and 91. This is unnecessary unless the grooves are of exceptional depth, it being only necessary, in most instances, to initiate movement of the strips into the grooves.

It will be apparent that during passage of the strips 44a 'and 45a from the cutting rolls lto the pleating devices there is a tendency for the flaps 11 to move outv of the openings 15 and assume perpendicular positions. However, as the strips pass over the rounded edges 92 of the shoes and move under the slippers |00 the leading unsev- `ered joints 16 insure return of the fiaps to their respective openings, whereby they are caused to enter the grooves 96 and 91 in substantially the j start to emerge from betweenthe shearing rolls,

j escoge same` manner as though `ithestri`pswere uncut.`

Referring to Figure 23, it will be noted that the openings 15 are formedin the central folds |05 and |06 of the strips and that the flaps 11 are folded lengthwise and are located whollyy between the two marginal sections |01 `and |08, the said folds being creased, asindicated at |04 (Figure 23), as the strips pass between the feed rolls 98.

The journals of the feed rolls 98 are carried in bearing blocks |09 (Figure 14) which are l mounted in windows formed in the frame members 43. The feed rolls may be adjusted toV engage the strips 44a and 45a with the proper pressure by adjusting threaded elements which are carried by projections||2 formed or providedupon 'the said frame members. The feed rolls carry companiongears ||3 and ||4. The former meshes with a gear,` 5 which is fixedl to a shaft ||6, the gear ||5 also meshing with a gear ||1 which is fixed to ashaft ||8. The lattery carries a sprocket |9 (FigureZ) which is connected `by a chain with a sprocket |2| carried by the countershaft `40. The driving mechanism described is so designedthat the peripheral `speed of the feed rolls` 98 is slightly slower than that ofthe feed rolls 5| and55. Hence the latter advance the strips 44a and 45a only when they are under the desired tension. In the event, therefore, that any slack should tend to develop between the cutting rolls and the 3 pleating devices the rolls 5| and 55, although continuing to rotate,`merely slip'until the engaged portions of the strips are again under `the proper tension. The employment of feed rolls inthe manner described insures passage of the strips of stock through the machine without the development of slack between the opening forming and pleating devices vand has `the advantagethat the total pulling force exercised upon the strips is divided and applied to different areas and is not concentrated at a single area. Thinner and less expensive grades of stock than would otherwise be `permissible may, therefore, be employed without` the possibility of tearing of the strips during carrying out of the above operations.

From the feed rolls 98`ithe strips 44a and 45a passbetween shearing rolls |2| and |22 (Figure i 14) which are carried bythe shafts ||6 and H8, respectively. `The said rolls carry axially arranged knives |23 which co-operate to cut the v pleated strips in sections, each of which includes one of the openings 15. Prior to the operation of lthe knives |23', the sections to be severed are engaged by lingers |24 and directed into vertical passages `I 25, each of whichis provided by a roll |26, a guide plate |26a and the opposing runs of two pairsof vertically arranged belts |21 and |21a (Figure 16d), the 'longer belts |21 (Figure 14) being carried by pulleys |28 which are mounted upon upper and lower shafts |29 and |30, respectively, and the shorter belts |21a-being carried by pulleys |3| which are mounted upon upper and lower shafts |32 and |33, respectively. The lingers |24 are fixed to actuating shafts |34 which arecarried by the shearing rolls and they normally occupy recesses |35 formed in the rolls. The actuating shafts |34, however, carry cranks |36 (Figurel5) whichin turn carryrollers |31, the latter operating in cam grooves |38 formed in disc-like members |39 which are carried by one of the side frame members 43. The cam grooves |38 are so formed that after the knives |23' have severed the leading sections from the strips 44a and 45a and the succeeding sections the lingers |24 move outwardly to engagethel ends of the latter and direct them into the passages |25 in the manner described. The shaft |32 carries a gear |40 which is driven through an idler gear |4| by a gear |42 which is carried by ashaft 43, the latter also carrying` a gear |44 (Figure 2) which is driven through an idler gear |45 by'a gear |46 carried by the shaft H8. The pulley shafts |30 and |33 (Figure 14) carry com'- panion gears |41 while the shaft of the roll `|26 and the shaft |29 carry companion gears |2611. The roll |26 and the belts |21 and |21a, therefore, feed the strips 44a and 45a downwardly.

As the strips enter the passages |25, they are engaged first by the roll |26 and the belts |21 and thereafter by the latter and the belts `|21a and are moved downwardly in front of entrances |48 of horizontal passages |49. As the central portions of the strip sections move opposite the entrances |48L and after the said sections vhave been severed from their respective strips by the knives |23, theyare engaged by blades |50 and pushed through the entrances |48 and passages |49 into engagement with the opposing runs of upper and lower pairs of belts |5| and |5|a, respectively, and are folded crosswise as their trailing ends are withdrawn from the passages |25, the crease thusforined in each section being indicated at |52 in Figure 23. Theblades |50 which initiate this folding operation are carried by arms |53 `which are mounted upon a shaft |54, the actuating mechanism for the said shaft including a `crank |55, a link |56 and a gear |51 which meshes with and which is driven by the gear 5. The upper belts |5| are carried bypulleys |58 which are mounted upon the shaft |43 and pu1- leys |59 which are mounted upon a shaft |60 while the lower belts |5|a are carried by pulleys |6| `which areV mounted upon a shaft |62 and pulleys |63 which are mounted upon a shaft |64, the shaft |62 carrying a gear |65 which meshes with the gear |42 to drive the pulleys, and hence the belts.

A pleated strip section which has been doubled in the manner described is indicated at |66 (Figure 14). As it is fed forwardly and emerges from between the belts |5| and |5|a it slides downwardly -by gravity across a transversely arranged guide plate |61 to a position (indicated at |66a) in which its leading end overlies the trailing end |68 of the preceding strip section and occupies a joint |69 which connects the said trailing end and the adjacent fold |10. A blade |1| of mecha'` nism for folding the doubled sections crosswise is also located in the joint |69, a co-operating blade |12 being located below and exteriorly of the joint. The blades |1| and |12 are carried by upper and lower cross bars |13'. `The ends of the latter carry blocks |14 which are slidably mounted for vertical movement in guideways |15 formed in track-pieces |16 which are arranged in pairs, one above the other, and which are pivotally mounted as at |11 upon extensions |18 ofthe side frame `mernbers 43. Vertical movements of the blades and |12 are effected by two pairs of levers |191. One pair of levers is carried by each of the frame extensions |18. The levers of each pair are pivotally mounted as at |8|, are connected to the cross bars |13 by links and are formed or provided with tail-pieces |82 which carry rollers |83. The rollers ofeach pairiof' levers operate in a groove |84 formed in a cam `|85 which is mounted upon a transverse shaft |86, the latter carrying a gear |81 (Figure 2) and being driven from a gear |88 carried by the shaft I8 through an idler gear |09. Pivotal movements of the blades |1| and |12 are effected by levers |90 (Figure 14) one of which is mounted as at ISI upon each of the frame extensions |18.'V The upper end of each lever |90 is connected by a link |92 to the free end of the associated upper track-piece |16 while the lower end is connected by a link |93 to the free end of the companion track-piece. A lateral extension |94 of each lever |90 carries a roller |95 which operates in a groove |96 formed in a cam |96a, the latter and the companion cam being carried by the shaft |86.

The cams' |85 and I96a are so designed that after the strip section I66a moves to the position indicated the blade I1| is pivoted forwardly and the blade |12 is pivoted rearwardly to the positions shown in Figure 19. Thereafter, while the blade I1I remains stationary, the lower blade |12 is m-oved upwardly, as shown in Figure 20, to fold the trailing end |68 of the preceding strip section around the upper blade and upon the leading end of the section IBBa. The blade I1I is then moved upwardly and is withdrawn from between the folds |68 and |10, as shown in Figure 2l, while the blade |12 remains stationary. The blade |12 is then pivoted forwardly and the blade I1I is pivoted rearwardly, after which the upper blade is moved downwardly, as shown in Figure 22, to fold the strip section around the lower blade and crease the strip section as indicated at |98 (Figure 23), during the final part of which movement the trailing end of the said section passes beyond a shoulder |99 which is formed on the guide plate |61 and, owing to its inherent A resiliency, assumes a position behind the shoulder, whereby to later insure passage over it of the leading end of the succeeding strip section. The blade |12 is then moved downwardly to withdraw it from between the folds of the strip section I66a and the sequence of operations described begins anew, the leading end of the succeeding strip section having, in the meantime, moved over the trailing end of the section I66a in the same manner that the leading end of the latter moved over the trailing end of the preceding strip section. Hence as the blade |12 is again moved upwardly the trailing end of the strip section I66a is folded around the upper blade to complete the folding of the said section, the latter being creased as indicated at |69 in this final operation.

The vertical movements of the blades I1| and |12 occur one after the other whereas their pivotal movements are simultaneous, are in cpposite directions and occur after successive verticalmovements of the two blades in the same direction. During the forward pivotal movements of the blades the engaged folds of the strip sections are caused to enter a receiver 200 (Figure 14), which conforms generally to the shape of the folds, the complete interfolded seat covers being pushed from the receiver onto a table from which they may be removed and packed in suitable cartons or containers. Guide rails 202 and a weight 203 maintain the pack formation of the seat covers, the latter pushing the weight along the table as they accumulate.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that as a strip of stock passes through the machine the openings 15 are cut at regularly spaced intervals, the said openings being so formed that the unsevered joints 16, which provide the connections between the flaps 11 and the strip proper, are

located at the leading ends of the openings substantially midway between the margins of the strip. The unsevered joints, therefore, lead the aps over the rounded upperedge 92 of the shoe of the pleating device and insure the return to the openings of the aps which may have previously moved out of them. During the pleating operation the slipper holds the aps in their openings and prevents them from interfering with the entry of the strip into the grooves 96 and 91 of the shoe. The pleated strip is then cut into sections which are folded crosswise in successive operations. In the first of these the sections are doubled. In the final operation the doubled sections are folded twice, the leading end of each section being interfolded between the trailing end and the adjacent fold of the preceding section during this operation. The folded seat covers are one-fourth their original width and one-sixth their original length. They may, therefore, be accommodated in dispensing cabinets of relative small size. When arranged in such a cabinet with the leading end of the foremost seat cover extending through the outlet opening so that it may be grasped, each seat cover is adapted when withdrawn to move the succeeding seat cover to the position originally occupied by it. Withdrawal of the seat covers from the cabinet is thus facilitated.

It is to be noted that the openings 15 are formed in the Zones of the strip which ultimately become the inner folds |05 and |06. The openings 15 and flaps 11 are, therefore, wholly covered by the outer folds |01 and |08 during the crosswise folding operations and hence do not interfere in any way with the mechanisms which perform these operations.

We claim as our invention:

l. A machine for forming interfolded toilet seat covers from a strip of stock including means for moving said strip lengthwise, means for forming openings in said strip at spaced intervals, means for pleating said strip to form lengthwise extending folds, means for cutting the pleated strip crosswise between said openings to divide it into sections, means for folding said sections crosswise to double them, means for folding the doubled sections crosswise and means for feeding said doubled sections to said last named means in such a manner that the leading end of each is folded between the trailing end and the adjacent fold of the preceding section.

2. A machine for forming interfolded toilet seat covers from a strip of stock including means for moving said strip lengthwise, means for forming openings in said strip at spaced intervals, said last named means providing flaps which are located within the openings and which are connected to the strip by unsevered joints, means for pleating said strip to form lengthwise extending folds, means for cutting the pleated strip crosswise between said openings to divide it into sections, means for folding said sections crosswise to double them, means for folding the doubled sections crosswise and means for feeding said doubled sections to said last named means in such a manner that the leading end of each is folded between the trailing end and the adjacent fold of the preceding section.

3, A machine for forming folded toilet seat covers from a strip of stock comprising means for moving said strip lengthwise, said means including a roll which engages one part of said strip, a pair of rolls which engage a different part thereof, Imeans for driving said first named roll at a slightly faster peripheral speed than said sections and means for crosswise.

last named rolls, whereby to` prevent the accumulation of slack" between thefengaged` parts of the strip,imeans for forming `openings in said strip at spacedintervals, means for pleating said strip to form lengthwise extending folds, means for cutting the pleated strip crosswise between said `openings to divide itinto sections and means for'folding-said sections crosswise l y i 4. A machine" for forming folded toiletsea covers from a strip of `stock` comprising means for moving" said strip lengthwise, said means inculding a roll which engages one part of said strip, a pair of -rolls which engage a different part thereof, means for driving said first named l roll at a slightly faster peripheral speed-than said 1last named rolls;whereby-to` prevent the lform` .openings` at `spaced intervals, means for pleating said strip to `form lengthwise `extending folds, means for cutting the pleated strip crosswise'bet'ween-said-openings to divide itinto sections, meansior `folding said sections crosswise @to-double'them, means `for folding thedoubled `sections crosswise and means for feeding lsaid doubled sections to said last named means 'in such amannerthat the leading end of each is folded4 betweenthetrailing end yand the adjacent fold of the preceding section.

8. 'A' machine for forming folded toilet -seat covers ,from a strip of stock including means for accumulation `of slack between the engaged parts Y of the strip, rotary knife `rneans for forming `openings in said strip, at spaced intervals,`said last named means providing flaps which are located within the openingsand which are' connected to the strip byiunsevered joints, means for pleating said strip to 'form lengthwise extending folds, means for cutting the pleated strip crosswise betweensaidopenings to divide it into sections and meansfor folding said sections crosswise.` l

5.'A machine for forming interfolded toilet seat covers from a strip of stock comprising means for movingsaid strip lengthwise, said means including a rollhaving a roughened metal and a pairjof rolls which engage a different part thereof, means `for driving said first named roll at a slightly faster peripheral speed than said last named rolls, wherebyl to preventthe accumulation "of slack betweenthe engaged parts moving said strip lengthwise, means for forming openings in said strip at spaced intervals, said `last named means providing flaps which are located withinthe openings and which are connected 'to the strip'by unsevered joints, a shoe providing converging passes which form` the strip into lengthwise'extending folds, a slipper arranged in front of said shoe for preventing displacement of saidflaps from said openings, means for cutting the pleated strip crosswise between i saidopeningsto divide it into sections and means surface which engages one part of said strip of the strip, rotary knife means for forming openings in said strip at spaced intervals, means `for pleating said strip to'form lengthwise extendingfolds, means for cutting the pleated strip crosswise between said openings to divide it into sections, `means for folding said sections crosswise to `double them`means for'folding the doubled sections 'crosswise'A and means for feeding `saididoubled sections to saidflast named means in such a manner thatjthejleading end of each is folded between thetrailing end and the ad- "jacent fold of the preceding section; Y

6, Ainachinefor` forming" folded toilet seat covers includingmeans for rotatably mounting a rollof stock, means `for unrolling said stock a and for moving) lengthwise `the strip thus provided, rotatablymounted elements having angularly inclined faces Whichengage and slightly s deform the opposite edgeslof saidroll to provide friction between said facesjand edges and thereby maintain said strip under a predetermined tension, means forsupporting said elements so that they are free to follow said edges as the roll diminishes in diameter, means for forming openings in said strip at spaced intervals, means for pleating said strip to form lengthwise extending folds, means` for cutting lthe pleated strip crosswise between said openings to divide it into folding said sections '7. A machine for forming `interfolded toilet seat covers including means for rotatably mounts ing a roll of stock, means forunrolling said stock and moving lengthwise the strip thus provided, means for frictionally engaging said roll to maintain said strip under a `predetermined tension,

rotary knives between which said strip passes and which oo-operate in scissor-like fashion to for foldingsaid sections crosswise.`

9. A machine for forming folded toilet seat vcovers from a strip of stock including means for movingsaid .strip lengthwise, means for kforming openings in saidjstrip at "spaced intervals, said last named C means providing flaps which are located within the, openings and which are connected to theY strip by unsevered joints, a shoe providing converging passes for forming the strip ,into lengthwise Aextending folds, a slipper which co-operates with'` said shoe to prevent displacementof saidr flaps from said openings, said slipper havinganges which extend in said passes, means; for` cutting the pleated strip crosswise between said openings to divide it into sections and 40.

f 10.k A machine for forming interfolded toilet means for` folding said sections crosswise.

seat coversincluding means for rotatably mounting a rollof stock, means for unrolling said stock andmovinglengthwise the strip `,thus provided,

`means for `forming openings in said` strip` at spaced intervals, said last. namedf means providlingilapswhich are located within the openings and which are,l connected to the strip'by unsevered joints'meansfor pleating said strip to form lengthwise extending folds, means co-operating with rsaid pleating means for preventing displacement of said flaps, `ineans for cutting the pleated strip crosswise betWeensaid-openings `to divide it into" sections, means for ,folding saidsections trailing" end andthe adjacent fold tf the preced-` crosswise and meansfor feeding saidfsectionsjto said lastnamed fmeans in such` a manner that theleading end of `each is folded between the ing section.

s 1l. A machine'for forming interfolded toilet seat covers from a strip of stock including means for moving said strip lengthwise, means for forming openings into said strip at spaced intervals, said last named means providing flaps which are located within the openings and which i are connected to the strip by unsevered joints, a

named means in such a manner that theleading end of each is folded between the trailing end and the adjacent fold of the preceding section.

12. A method of forming folded toilet seat covers comprising moving a strip of stock lengthwise and during .such movement forming openings in the strip at spaced intervals, pleating the strip by displacing parallel lengthwise extending zones, cutting the pleated strip between said openings to divide it into sections, moving said sections lengthwise in single file, and folding each of said sections 'crosswise while interfolding the leading end of the succeeding section between its trailing end and the adjacent fold.

13. A method of forming interfolded toilet seat covers comprising moving a strip of stock lengthwise and during such movement forming openings in the strip at spaced intervals, pleating the strip by displacing parallel lengthwise extending Zones, cutting the pleated strip between said openings to divide it into sections, folding said sections crosswise to double them, moving the doubled sections lengthwise in singlefile and folding each of the doubled sections crosswise while interfolding the leading end of the succeeding section between its trailing end andthe adjacent fold.

14.`A ,machine for forming folded toilet seat covers from a strip of stock including means for moving said strip lengthwise, means for forming openings in said strip which are located at spaced intervals along a longitudinal median line and which are bounded on each side by a longitudinally extending, marginal, uncut Zone, said last named means providing flaps which are located within said openings and which are connected tothe strip by unsevered joints, means for pleating said strip to form a plurality of lengthwise extending folds, the inner of said folds including said flaps and the outerof said folds including said uncut zones, means for cutting thevpleated strip crosswise between said openings to divide it into sections and means for folding said sections crosswise.

15. A machine for forming interfolded toilet 'seat covers from a strip of stock including means for moving said strip lengthwise, means for forming openings in said strip which are located at spaced intervals along a longitudinal median line and which are bounded on each side by a longitudinally extending, marginal, uncut zone, said last named means providing flaps which are located within the openings and which are connected to the strip by unsevered joints, means for pleating said strip tol form aL plurality of lengthwise extending folds, the inner of said folds including said flaps and the outer of said folds including said uncut zones, means for cutting` the pleated strip crosswise between said openings to 4divide it into sections, means for feeding said sections lengthwise, means for receiving said sections one after the other and for folding them crosswise and means for controlling the operation of said feeding means so that as a preceding section is being folded by said receivingand folding means said feeding means will advance the leading end of thesucceeding section to a position overlying the trailing end of said preceding section, whereby the leading end of each section is folded between the trailing end and an adjacent fold of a preceding section.

16. A machine for forming interfolded toilet seat covers from a strip of stock including means for moving said strip lengthwise, means fory forming openings in said strip at spaced intervals, means for pleating said strip to form lengthwise extending folds, means for cutting the pleated strip crosswise between said openings to divide it into sections, means for feeding said sections lengthwise,fmeans for receiving said sections one after the other and for folding them crosswise and means for controlling the operation of said feeding means so that as a preceding section is being folded by said receiving and folding means said feeding means'will advance the leading end of the succeeding sectionvto a position overlying the Vtrailing end of said preceding section, whereby the leading end of each section is folded between the trailing end and the adjacent fold of a preceding section.

17. A machine for forming interfolded toilet seat covers from a strip of stock including means for moving said strip lengthwise, meansV for forming openings in said strip at spaced intervals, said last named means providing flaps which are located within the openings and which are connected to the strip by unsevered joints, means for pleating said strip to form lengthwise extending folds, means forcutting the pleated strip crosswise between said openingsto divide it into sections, means for feeding said sections lengthwise, means for receiving said sections one after the other and for folding them crosswise and means for controlling the operation of said feeding means so that as a preceding section is being folded by said receiving and folding means said feeding means will advance the leading end of the succeeding section to a position overlying the trailing end of said preceding section, whereby the leading end of each section is folded between the trailing end and the adjacent foldl o a preceding section.

. CHARLES E. KIRCH.

CHARLES G. MAcLELLA-ND. vFRANK M. BECKER. 

